The Awards Ceremony,

Well it was the final day of the 2007 Bolivian Cup of Excellence competition. There was no better way to end off our journey than by seeing all of the hard working farmers and their families cheering each other on in hopes of being one of the 26 finalists. It was incredible to see their faces filled with joy when their names were called one by one and recognized in front of all the media for the efforts to improve quality and consistency on their farms. It sure makes it easy for me to continue supporting the COE Competition when you get to hear stories of how this motivates them to improve what they do, and hear them tell us how their lives change through the exportation of their coffee to our roasting facilities.

For my self, this was the highlight of the trip as it was my first experience at an awards ceremony. You could see the pride in everyone attending. Overall this trip has been incredible. I seemed to learn something everyday from all the other roasters and cuppers attending this event. I’m going home tomorrow a better cupper, and have everyone else to thank. I’m leaving with better skills, great memories, improved knowledge of the COE competition and most of all, new friendships that I hope will last forever.

Thank you everyone for giving me memories to last a life time.

Russ Prefontaine
Fratello Coffee Co
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

A day in the Bolivian coffee trees.

Great coffees!!! That is the most common expression that I hear every time I participate in Cup of Excellence competitions, and this time, in Bolivia 2007 is not the exception. There is no doubt that this program is a very helpful tool to recognize the effort made by the coffee growers, and the most important thing, to discover and expose them to the even more specialized coffee market. As a cupper of a producing country I can say that each cup of coffee tells us a fantastic story, and behind of it exits great people, able to share these fantastic stories.

This week has been a great experience for me staying in Bolivia, I have had the opportunity of enjoying great coffees, but also, sharing with the key players in the field, the growers and of course all people around them. I knew Don Cervando and Doña Alejandra Ramos, growers from Coroico Area, who have a nice big family. Sons, mother, father, grand father, all the family involved in a single activity that keep them together.

My staying there was simply fascinating, but I would like to highlight a special detail. They had everything prepared, waiting for a group of strangers, however, they carefully put tags with our name on the coffee trees. They opened their home´s doors to let us know where their “coffee stories” are made. I really appreciate this small but at the same time, huge details.

Thanks Bolivian people…
Eduardo Ambrocio

First day of Bolivia COE 2007 - Calibration showed the potential of what was later to come, we did 7 lots three times and found most of them very sweet, creamy and balanced.

Bolivia is a really diversed country and the people are very friendly, warm, endearing and always willing to help.

After calibration we visited the town of Coroico in the Yungas region a charming place where we had dinner with some of the town's authorities, they gave each member of the jury a recognition certificate for the work in promoting Bolivian coffee, and the fun story was that thought that my last name was Mercanta (company I work for) it showed 'Jose Aguilar Mercanta' raising a laugh among the jury members.

The national jury has set the standard for the week working very profesionally and hard to make sure we have everything we need.

It was a good day and has made me look forward to the coming week.

Jose Aguilar (Mercanta)